Request for Expressions of Interest (REOI) (Consultancy Services Firm Selection)

Reference No.: RFP No: NIC/OPEC/SAPZ/QCBS/001/26

The Government of Liberia has received co-funding from the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) towards the establishment of a Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) over a period of three (3) years, (January 2025 to December 2027), and intends to apply part of the agreed amount towards funding (Detailed Engineering for Design Layout for Project Works and Supervision for three Agricultural Transformation Centers (ATCs) and Aggregation Centers (ACs), including ESIA/ESMP and EPA Permit under the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) Project, in Bong, Nimba, and Cape Mount County) as part of component two of the project: (Enable Skills and Climate-Smart Agriculture, Value Chain Development and Strengthen Farmer’s Coordination).

The National Investment Commission (NIC), through the SAPZ Project, is soliciting the services of a qualified Consulting Firm to undertake all the necessary studies to carry out a comprehensive engineering detailed design for the construction of ATCs/ACs and the needed external and on-site infrastructure that are required to include a community approach road linking the ATCs/ACs site to primary highway, construction of perimeter fencing, site grading, and signature gate for each ATC/AC that include a land space of 4.5 hectares provided in each of the three counties, the construction of a 33KV distribution power line linked from existing CLSG lines to the ATC/AC, storage and warehousing facilities, administrative building, other specialized infrastructure and amenities zone and supervision of all infrastructure works.

The assignment will also develop the required ESIAs and ESMPs to satisfy the Environmental Protection Agency of Liberia's compliance requirements, OPEC Fund safeguard requirements, and the African Development Bank’s Integrated Safeguard Policies, and to obtain the relevant permits for the project sub-components. These studies shall identify, predict, and propose management strategies and implementation plans to address potential environmental, social, economic, and gender-sensitive impacts associated with the project activities. These studies shall provide detailed gender-sensitive methodologies for field assessments and the management of environmental and social issues related to the project's physical, biological, and socioeconomic baseline.

The Detailed Engineering Design and Supervision of Works shall be carried out over a period of nineteen months & two weeks (19.5), with the engineering design and ESIA and EPA permitting lasting sixty (60) days and the supervision of all external and onsite works lasting eighteen (18) months. The detailed Terms of Reference (TOR) for the assignment can be obtained from the address below and can be found at the following websites: a) www.nic.gov.lr b) www.emansion.gov.lr

The National Investment Commission (NIC), through the SAPZ Project, now invites eligible consulting firms to indicate their interest in performing the services. Interested firms must provide information indicating that they are qualified to perform the services (brief corporate profile, description of similar assignment, experience in similar conditions, availability of appropriate skills, etc.)

The shortlisting criteria for the firms include the following:

• Relevant General Experience of the Firm with at least 5 years of general consulting experience, experience working on road and other infrastructure projects, agriculture, or environmental projects, and prior experience with donor-funded projects.
• Specific Experience in Similar Assignments, carrying out designs and supervision works for large-scale infrastructure, or agro-industrial projects, Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) for comparable projects, and at least one (1) similar assignment successfully completed within the last 10 years.
• Experience with Regulatory Frameworks, specifically familiarity with Liberian environmental laws and EPA EIA Procedures, and experience preparing ESIA reports approved by the Liberian EPA.
• Technical and Managerial Capacity of the Firm with availability of a qualified multidisciplinary team, including a Team Leader/ Project Manager, Highway Engineer, Senior Social/ Material/ Pavement Engineer, Geodetic Engineer, Civil Engineer, Hydrology/Hydraulics (Drainage) Engineer, Environmental Expert, Social Expert, Quantity Surveyor/Measurement Engineer, Electrical Engineer, and Land Surveyor.

The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to Section G and Appendix II of the OPEC Fund’s Principles of Procurement of Goods, Works and Services, setting forth the OPEC Fund’s policy on conflict of interest.

Consultants may associate with other firms to enhance their qualifications, but should clearly indicate whether the association is in the form of a joint venture and/or a sub-consultancy. In the case of a joint venture, all the partners in the joint venture shall be jointly and severally liable for the entire contract, if selected. A Consultancy Firm will be selected in accordance with the Quality and Cost Based Selection Method (QCBS) method set out in the Procedures for the Procurement of Consulting Services. Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours, i.e., 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM Monrovia Time.

Interested consulting firms may obtain further information at the address below during office hours 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM Monrovia Time. Expressions of interest must be delivered in hard copy or by email to the address below and clearly marked “EXPRESSION OF INTEREST for (Detailed Engineering for Design Layout for Project Works, ESIA/ESMP and Supervision for three Agricultural Transformation Centers (ATCs) and Aggregation Centers (ACs) under the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) Project, in Bong, Nimba, and Cape Mount County)” on or before 2:00 pm local time, Tuesday, April 7th , 2026.

Special Agro Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) Project Hon. Melvin Sheriff, Sr./ Executive Director Attn: Project Implementation Unit National Investment Commission M&E Professional Building 2nd Floor, Room - 15 Sekou Touré Ave. UN Drive Tel: +231 886 976 983/ 777 551 753 Email: msheriff@nic.gov.lr /aanderson2024@gmail.com/ boimahgibson@gmail.com Monrovia, Liberia